Student Loan Consolidation Info

Eligible Consolidation Loans

Which Loans Can Be Consolidated?

Just as there are several types of loans that you may have received during your school years, there are several different consolidation plans available to you. The Higher Education Act authorized both the Direct Consolidation Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL). Under the Direct Consolidation, all eligible loans requested by the borrower must be accepted. Under the FFEL, the lenders may accept all eligible loans, but have the option of keeping certain loans separate with different terms.

The list below includes all loans that may be consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan.

Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans

Direct PLUS Loans and Federal PLUS Loans *

Direct Consolidation Loans and Federal Consolidation Loans

Guaranteed Student Loans

Federal Insured Student Loans

Federal Supplemental Loans for Students

Auxiliary Loans to Assist Students

Federal Perkins Loans

National Direct Student Loans

National Defense Student Loans

Health Education Assistance Loans

Health Professions Student Loans

Loans for Disadvantaged Students

Nursing Student Loans

*PLUS loans are eligible for in-school consolidation only if the parent borrower includes other eligible, non-PLUS loans during an in-school period.

There are also loans that may not be included in a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan. Some of them are in the list below:

Loans made by a state or private lender and not guaranteed by the federal government

Primary Care Loans

Law Access Loans

Medical Assist Loans

PLATO Loans

It may still be possible to consolidate these, but a different road must be taken. Many states have their own consolidation loan available as part of their education loan programs. Check our state consolidation loans page for a listing of states offering these loans.

If you have private or alternative loans, you may be able to consolidate these through private lenders. Check first with your current lenders to see if they offer consolidation loans. There are several national lenders who offer consolidation loans. A few of these are: